To be, or not to be....a Pescetarian

We hit up an italian joint called Al Vento in our Longfellow neighborhood. We were greeted by a PYT - maybe 18 years old, and promptly seated at a charming table near the front of the restaurant. We discussed Dara Moskowitz over dinner and some of her latest reviews. Sam, the waiter, eavesdropped and made a comment about how he was gonna meet her someday. We smiled. I love how she writes even if I don't always agree with what she writes.

The menu was mouthwatering. We selected the house red wine and a sampling of bruschettas - tomato basil, caponata, duo olive tepenade, and artichoke walnut. Each was very tasty, especially the artichoke walnut. We followed that with golden beat salad with fennel vinaigrette and warm goat cheese. Beet lovers, such as myself, are thrilled with all the new beet salads hitting menus around here! It took awhile, but I finally selected a lovely plate of fettucinni with clams and shrimp and garlic and herbs for dinner. The sauce was to die for. I wanted to eat it with a spoon. The little clams were a delight! gerg opted for the Bucatini all' amatriciana with tomato and pancetta. I took a small nibble of a bucatini noodle, having never even heard of it, and I liked the bite of one of the tube-like noodles - a unique texture, still al dente, for sure. The ragu on gerg's pasta was hearty and chock full of tangy tomato and pancetta chunks. He liked it.

The food at Al Vento? Robust. Full of flavor, not dominated by garlic. Moderately priced, lit for romance, I believe this little corner joint will stick around, like Broder's. Very neighborhoody. Very bistro-like. We toasted several times. Sam, our waiter, crawled under our table to fix a brazen wobble while I eavesdropped on a visiting med student from California who refused to stop talking about anything pertaining to himself.

Al Vento5001 34-th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN, 55417(612) 724-3009

Now to the heart of the matter and a topic of our dinner conversation last night. Frequently, people refer to me as a vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian. I had been a vegetarian (not a vegan) awhile back, but missed fish and seafood too much, so I dropped anchor, and grabbed the first prawn in sight. So technically, I'm a pesco-vegetarian, or a pescetarian. In other words, I don't eat birds or mammals, but I'll gladly rip open a lobster carcass to remove tender bits and dip them in butter. Not that any of this really matters in the scheme of things, but I don't like the idea of being called a vegetarian, because I'm not one. So, when I correct people, I've said a variety of different crap, such as "No, I eat fish and seafood;" "Actually, I'm not a vegertarian cuz I love sushi;" "I'm a pescatarian." Here's the rub; I loathe the word 'pescatarian.' When I think of some asshole rambling about being a 'pescatarian,' I want to punch myself in the face.

So that's my dilema. I loathe the word that describes me. I don't want to refer to myself as a 'pescatarian' when I correct those who call me a vegetarian (you'd be surprised how often that happens). While some of you might argue that the easiest solution would be to start eating other meats, I say "Screw that. I don't want to." The facts: I don't like consuming mammals and birds. I love chowing on fish. Even while gerg was revelling in a ho-made NY strip topped with gorgonzola, I opted for the garlicy green beans and roasted potatoes and peppers on Tuesday night.

we couldn't come up with a better word than pescatarian. We're working on it though. And that word is gonna be SO COOL. I just know it. We're open to friendly suggestions.

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Oh, and in case you were wondering about Christmas and NYE, they were both amazing!Christmas was all about visiting friends and family in Wisconsin. Highlights: ham dinner at my sis's house (no, I didn't eat any), making music and eating fruitcake at my parents', gigantic crab legs and playing dominoes with gerg's family, dinner at WCG and drinks at Peabodies in Oshkosh.

NYE was a blast. Two preparties, then bussed it to Temple to hear ack play rekkids. Then a secret afterparty involving djs and a boozey concoction. Highlights: a Packer victory!, champagne, a fun bus ride involving "Down by the Bay," ack's killer set, and a wikked dance party at 215.

4 comments:

Solution to dilema of only eating fish: eat what tastes good and forget the lables.

Denying oneself the pleasure of meat is obscene and inhumane. I didn't eat meat for 5 years. A dark dark time indeed.

No lamb shank at Holy Land? No pot roast at the Modern? No cubano at Manny's Tortas? No burger at Ikes? No tacos at La Tortuga? No lamb chops at 112? No veal at LBV? NO MANNYS? No ribs, brisket, pulled pork?

Its just too painful to watch someone disect a menu filled with the gifts of this earth and watch some of the best parts passed-over in favor of often-flavorless sea-based substitutes. SET YOUR PALATE FREE MARIE!!!!